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| United States Patent |
5,154,166
|
|
Chikama
|
October 13, 1992
|
Endoscope cover
Abstract
An endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an
elastic material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a top end rigid
portion of the endoscope. A transparent window arranged on a closed face
formed on the top end of the rigid cover to confront at least an
observation port and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the top
end of the endoscope, and a bag-shaped covering member having a length
covering at least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope, which
is attached to the rear part of the endoscope. A groove or notched face is
formed in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the top end
rigid portion of the endoscope and an anchoring groove is formed on the
circumferential face portion. Anchoring projections are formed at
confronting positions on the inner circumferential face of the rigid cover
and are fitted in the anchoring groove formed in the top end rigid portion
to fix the rigid cover to the top end rigid portion and cover the
intermediate conduit portion with the covering member.
| Inventors:
|
Chikama; Toshio (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Machida Endoscope Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
648592 |
| Filed:
|
January 31, 1991 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Feb 01, 1990[JP] | 2-8121[U] |
| Current U.S. Class: |
600/124; 150/154; 383/103; 600/125; 600/129 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A61B 001/00 |
| Field of Search: |
206/305,363,364,438
128/4,6
150/154,165
383/103
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3794091 | Feb., 1974 | Ersek et al. | 150/154.
|
| 3861395 | Jan., 1975 | Taniguchi | 206/438.
|
| 4011947 | Mar., 1977 | Sawyer | 206/363.
|
| 4329980 | May., 1982 | Terada | 128/4.
|
| 4419987 | Dec., 1983 | Ogiu | 128/4.
|
| 4453936 | Jun., 1984 | Cassou | 206/364.
|
| 4646722 | Mar., 1987 | Silverstein et al. | 128/4.
|
| 4706653 | Nov., 1987 | Yamamoto | 128/4.
|
| 4765313 | Aug., 1988 | Kumakura | 128/4.
|
| 4772275 | Sep., 1988 | Erlich | 206/364.
|
| 4794911 | Jan., 1989 | Okada | 128/4.
|
| 4870951 | Oct., 1989 | Suzuki | 128/4.
|
| 4881810 | Nov., 1989 | Hasegawa | 128/4.
|
| 4972825 | Nov., 1990 | Vescovo, Jr. | 383/103.
|
| 4991564 | Feb., 1991 | Takahashi et al. | 128/4.
|
| 4991565 | Feb., 1991 | Takahashi et al. | 128/4.
|
Primary Examiner: Fidei; David T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Levisohn, Lerner & Berger
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An endoscope cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an
elastic material fitted to an endoscope to cover a top end rigid portion
of the endoscope, a transparent window arranged on a closed face formed on
the top end of the rigid cover to confront at least an observation port
and an illuminating port which are arranged on the top end of the
endoscope, and a covering member having a length covering at least an
intermediate part of the endoscope, the covering member covering the
intermediate conduit portion and the rigid cover, wherein the rigid cover
is attached to the top end rigid cover, an air-injecting opening being
formed at the rear end of the covering member means to enable air to enter
said covering member characterized in that said rigid cover comprises
projections which cooperate with anchoring means formed in the outer
periphery of the top end rigid portion of the endoscope, said top end
rigid portion further including opposed axial notches whereby with one
hand control by the operator, said rigid cover is deformed to move said
projections from said anchoring means to permit removal of the rigid cover
and covering member from said endoscope.
2. An endoscope cover as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bag
loosely fitting over said covering member and said endoscope to facilitate
sanitary removal of said covering member and said rigid cover from said
endoscope.
3. An endoscope cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bag is
transparent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present device relates to a cover for covering the outer periphery of
an endoscope when the endoscope is used.
After an endoscope is used in the body cavity of a patient, the endoscope
is generally washed and disinfected. However, this washing and
disinfecting operation requires much time and labor, and the working
efficiency of the endoscope is very low. Furthermore, if this washing and
disinfecting operation is not sufficiently performed, no satisfactory
washing and disinfecting effect can be attained.
Accordingly, an idea of a disposable cover for covering the outer periphery
of an endoscope when the endoscope is used has recently been proposed, and
an example of the disposable cover is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 61-179128.
The disclosed technique concerns an endoscope cover comprising a soft
cylindrical coverning member composed of a rubber or synthetic resin,
which is attached to a rigid cover fitted to cover a top end rigid portion
of the endoscope.
According to this endoscope cover, the rigid cover is fitted to the top end
rigid portion of the endoscope, a flexible tube of the endoscope is
entirely covered with the covering member from the top end side of the
flexible tube, the endoscope is inserted in this state into the body
cavity of a patient, and after the endoscope is used, the endoscope cover
is dismounted and thrown away. When the endoscope is used again, the
endoscope is covered with a new endoscope cover and is used in the
above-mentioned manner. According to this technique, the endoscope need
not be washed and disinfected, and a high sanitary effect is attained and
the endoscope can be continuously used.
When the above-mentioned endoscope is inserted into the body cavity for the
use, or is bent in the body cavity or repeatedly moved to and fro in the
inserting direction, the rigid cover comes off from the top end rigid
portion or the covering member gets out of position. Even if the rigid
cover does not come off, the field of vision is disturbed by the sippage
of the rigid conver.
Furthermore, if the rigid cover is tightly fitted, it is difficult to
dismount the rigid cover. For example, if the rigid cover is screwed, the
screw should be turned in the reverse direction when the rigid cover is
dismounted, and this operation should be performed with both hands.
Accordingly, the operation efficiency is low, and since both hands are
used for the dismounting operation, the dirty endoscope should be put at a
certain place and the problem of contamination arises.
It is a primary object of the present invention to protect the intermediate
conduit portion of the endoscope from contamination during use, and turns
next use immediately after the use into posibility.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cover,
in which, the rigid cover is prevented from being taken off or getting out
of position, and there can be attained an effect of ensuring complete
covering.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope
cover, which can be taken off from the endoscope by one touch, and the
removal of the used endoscope cover can be accomplished without
contamination of the endoscope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an endoscope
cover comprising a cylindrical rigid cover composed of an elastic
material, which is fitted to an endoscope to cover a top end rigid portion
of the endscope, a transparent window arranged on a closed face formed on
the top end of the rigid cover to confront at least an observation port
and an illuminating port, which are arranged on the top end of the
endoscope, and a bag-shaped covering member having a length covering at
least an intermediate conduit portion of the endoscope, which is attached
to the rear part of the endoscope, wherein a groove or notched face is
formed in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the top end
rigid portion of the endoscope and an anchoring groove is formed on the
circumferential face portion, and anchoring projections are formed at
confronting positions on the inner circumferential face of the rigid cover
and are fitted in the anchoring groove formed in the top end rigid portion
to fix the rigid cover to the top end rigid portion and cover the
intermediate conduit portion with the covering member.
Furthermore, According to the present invention, wherein an air-injecting
opening is formed at the rear end of the covering member.
In the above-mentioned structure, if the rigid cover is fitted to cover the
top end rigid portion of the endoscope from the covering member, the
anchoring projections are anchored in the groove formed in the top end
rigid portion by one touch and the transparent window is positioned and
fixed to confront the observation port and illuminating port.
The covering member is extended along the intermediate conduit portion from
the end to cover the intermediate conduit portion entirely. In this state,
the intermediate conduit portion can be inserted into the body cavity and
used for the observation. After the use, the place separate from the
anchoring projections is depressed, whereby the anchoring projections are
taken off from the anchoring groove, and therefore, the rigid cover can be
removed from the top end rigid portion. Moreover, by drawing out the rigid
cover, the intermediate conduit portion can be drawn out without
contamination of the endoscope. Therefore, if a new endoscope cover is
fitted to the endoscope, the endoscope can be directly used again.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the state where an endoscope cover is
attached to an endoscope.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the state of a top end rigid
portion and a rigid cover in the endoscope.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the state where the rigid cover is
taken off.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the state where the endoscope cover is
taken off from the endoscope.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An example of the present device will now be described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the state where an endoscope cover is
attached to an endoscope. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the
state of a top end rigid portion of the endoscope and a rigid cover. FIG.
3 is a sectional view showing the state where the rigid cover is taken
off. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the state where the endoscope cover
is taken off from the endoscope. In the drawings, reference numeral 1
represents an endoscope comprising a handle 2, an intermediate conduit
portion 3 composed of a flexible tube and a guide tube portion 4 connected
to a light source.
In general, an image guide, a light guide and an angle-operating wire are
disposed in the intermediate conduit portion 3.
The top of the intermediate conduit portion 3 forms a bendable angle
portion, and a top end rigid portion 5 is attached to the top end of the
angle portion.
An observation port connected to an image guide and an illuminating port
connected to a light guide are formed on the top end of the top end rigid
portion 5.
Notched faces 5a and 5b confronting each other are formed at symmetric
positions on the side face of the top end rigid portion 5, and an
anchoring groove 5c is formed on the curcumferential face of the top end
rigid portion 5. Reference numeral 5d represents a joint portion to the
intermediate conduit portion 3. One of the notched faces 5a and 5b may act
as a fitting groove in which a tube having both the ends opened, such as a
forceps guide tube continuous from the intermediate conduit portion 3 to
the top end rigid portion 5 or an air/water supply tube, is fitted. In the
present example, this fitting groove is used.
Reference numeral 6 represents a rigid cover, which has a cylindrical shape
having an inner diameter sufficient to cover the top end rigid portion 5,
and transparent windows 6b and 6c are formed on a closed face 6a on the
top end of the rigid cover 6 to confront the observation port and
illuminating port and two anchoring projections 6d and 6e are formed at
confronting positions on the inner circumferential face of the rigid cover
6. A hood 6f extended to the outer periphery of the top end can be formed
according to need. If necessary, a hole corresponding to the
above-mentioned fitting groove is formed on the closed face 6a and the end
portion of the tube 6g having both the ends opened, such as the forceps
guide tube, is attached to this hole. Of course, this hole need not be
formed in case of an endoscope not using a forceps or the like, and in
this case, the above-mentioned fitting groove and the tube having both the
ends opened need not be formed.
A soft bag-shaped covering member 7 formed of a rubber or synthetic resin
is attached to the outer periphery of the rigid cover 6, and the diameter
of the covering member 7 is adjusted to a value almost equal to the outer
diameter of the intermediate conduit portion 3 so that the covering member
7 adheres closely to the intermediate conduit portion 3, or adjusted to a
value slightly larger than the outer diameter of the intermediate conduit
portion 3 so that the covering member 7 loosely covers the intermediate
conduit portion 3. In each case, the end portion of the covering member 7
adheres and anchors closely to the intermediate conduit portion 3 at the
position of the root of the handle 2 or covers the handle 2 entirely. At
the rear portion of the covering member 7, an air-injecting opening 7a is
formed so that air can be injected into the covering member 7 from this
air-injecting opening 7a.
In the above-mentioned example, two notched faces or the fitting groove and
notched face are formed, but if the rigid cover is deformed and the
anchoring projection is taken off from the anchoring groove, one notched
face suffices.
In the example having the above-mentioned structure, if the rigid cover 6,
headed by the covering member 7, is fiited to cover the top end rigid
portion 5 of the endoscope, the anchoring projections 6d and 6e are
anchored to the anchoring groove 5c of the top end rigid portion 5 by one
touch because of the elasticity of the rigid cover 6 and the holes 6b and
6c are positioned and fixed to confront the observation port and
illuminating port.
Then, the covering member 7 is extended from the rear part along the
intermediate conduit portion 3 to cover the intermediate conduit portion 3
entirely or to cover even the handle 2 as well as the intermediate conduit
portion 3. In this state, the intermediate conduit portion 3 is inserted
into the body cavity and used for the observation.
After the observation, the endoscope cover is taken out from the endoscope.
Namely, at first, the rigid cover 6 is depressed from the outside at
positions separate by 90.degree. from the positions of the anchoring
projections 6d and 6e (these positions are preferably marked), that is, at
the corresponding positions of the notched faces 5a and 5b of the top end
rigid portion 5, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the rigid cover 6 is
elliptically deformed and expanded and the anchoring projections 6d and 6e
are taken off from the anchoring groove 5c. In this state, the rigid cover
6 can be removed from the top end rigid portion 5 by pulling. These
procedures will now be described in due order.
As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope is put into a transparent bag 8 having a
length sufficient to contain the entire endoscope therein or contain at
least the entire intermediate conduit portion 3 therein, so that the
operation is carried out in the state where the endoscope is grasped
through the bag 8.
At first, air is injected into the covering member 7 from the air-injecting
opening 7a to separate the endoscope cover from the endoscope, and as
pointed out hereinbefore, the rigid cover 6 is depressed from the outside
at positions separate by 90.degree. from the positions of the anchoring
projections 6d and 6e, whereby the anchoring projections 6d and 6e are
taken off from the anchoring groove 5c. Therefore, the rigid cover 6 can
be taken out from the top end rigid portion 5 and the intermediate conduit
portion 3 can be drawn out from the endoscope cover by pulling it together
with the bag 8. The endoscope cover is thrown away together with the bag
8, and the endoscope is not contaminated.
Accordingly, by attaching a new endoscope cover to the endoscope, the
endoscope can be immediately used again.
As is apparent from the foregoing detailed description, according to the
present device, there is provided an endoscope cover comprising a
cylindrical rigid cover composed of an elastic material, which is fitted
to an endoscope to cover a top end rigid portion of the endoscope, a
transparent window arranged on a closed face formed on the top end of the
rigid cover to confront at least an observation port and an illuminating
port, which are arranged on the top end of the endoscope, and a bag-shaped
covering member having a length covering at least an intermediate conduit
portion of the endoscope, which is attached to the rear part of the
endoscope, wherein a groove or notched face is formed in the longitudinal
direction of the outer periphery of the top end rigid portion of the
endoscope and an anchoring groove is formed on the circumferential face
portion, and anchoring projections are formed at confronting positions on
the inner circumferential face of the rigid cover and are fitted in the
anchoring groove formed in the topend rigid portion to fix the rigid cover
to the top end rigid portion and cover the intermediate conduit portion
with the covering member. In this structure, even if the endoscope is
used, for example, in the body cavity, since the intermediate conduit
portion, that is, the inserting portion, is covered with the covering
member, the endoscope is not contaminated, and only by exchanging the
endoscope cover with a new endoscope cover after the use, the endoscope
can be immediately used again.
Moreover, since the rigid cover can be fixed to the top end rigid portion,
the rigid cover is prevented from being taken off or getting out of
position, and there can be attained an effect of ensuring complete
covering.
Moreover, since the endoscope cover can be taken off from the endoscope by
one touch, the removal of the used endoscope cover can be accomplished
without contamination of the endoscope. This is another effect attained by
the present device.
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